Vol. 511 No. 2
120 Mr. Kirk asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if he is considering any initiative to cater for the housing needs of single people who find themselves as a low priority on local authority housing lists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23900/99]
Local authorities have been advised by my Department that their housing programmes should reflect the housing needs situation in their areas, particularly in relation to household size and composition including the accommodation requirements of lone parent families, single homeless persons, disabled persons and the elderly. Local authorities were also advised to include in their programmes an appropriate proportion of smaller houses and-or apartments to suit the accommodation needs of smaller households.
Guidelines issued to local authorities by my Department in relation to the assessments of housing need and schemes of letting priorities specify that applicants for local authority housing should not be debarred from inclusion in the assessment by virtue of their marital status and that schemes of letting priorities should promote equality of opportunity in getting access to local authority housing based on relative housing need.
